SHELTON HERITAGE SOCIETY OF GEORGIA & HISTORIC POSSUM TROT, INC.
Ancestral Family of Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Research. Advocacy. Legacy. Preservation. Community.
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin, Berry College
Preserving the Past. Enhancing the Present. Elevating the Future.
The Shelton Heritage Society of GA & Historic Possum Trot, Inc. is a nonprofit/nonstock corporation founded on the principle of restoration. We are committed to the preservation, promotion, documentation, research, and advocacy of the rich history and legacy of Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton, including, but not limited to, highlighting both the family’s origin and descendant community’s contributions to agriculture, business, education, and community. Our work also encompasses the Shelton family's ties to the African diaspora, Indigenous heritage, enslavement, Coosa, the Shelton Family Settlement at Possum Trot founded by Hardy and Mary in 1874, Virginia, North Carolina and the Cathey-Shelton Family Settlement in Robertson County, Texas and other regions where Hardy and Mary and their descendants settled. Through historical research, community service, advocacy, and educational initiatives, we seek to honor our ancestors, strengthen and reconnect family lines, and ensure that the family’s impact is recognized for generations to come. Informally affiliated with the research site Shelton Family Settlement at Possum Trot, of which our founder is the creator, we support all efforts to preserve and expand the knowledge of the Shelton family’s history.
Healing Work: Self-Care for the Keepers of Memory and Legacy
Wellness Tools for Family, Community, and Public Historians, Storytellers, Preservationists, and Other Cultural Stewards
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 7:00–8:30 p.m. ET (Virtual)
As part of our Historic Preservation Series: Preserving the Legacy of Story Sites, this virtual program features Dr. Aja C. Burks, an educator, speaker and licensed therapist.
In this powerful and restorative session, Dr. Burks will explore how those who safeguard history—family historians, preservationists, storytellers, and cultural stewards—can cultivate wellness while engaging with challenging narratives of the past. Participants will learn practical tools for resilience, reflection, and renewal when navigating ancestral trauma, community advocacy, and the emotional labor of preservation work.
Through guided discussion and a supportive Q&A, attendees will gain insight into:
Healing practices for those working with family and community history
Balancing advocacy and scholarship with personal well-being
Managing the weight of discovery in genealogical and historical research
Sustaining oneself while preserving memory and legacy for future generations
🔗 Registration required | Free virtual event
Date: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Location: Zoom | Free & Open to the Public
Join us for an evening of learning, healing, and collective care.
The event is free, virtual and open to the public. Click the link below to register:
Thank You for Celebrating 150 Years of Legacy with Us!
Thank you to everyone who took part in our 150th anniversary event. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your contributions. While our gathering was intimate, its impact was profound. Every shared story, conversation, and moment of reflection played a vital role in preserving and honoring the rich legacy of the Shelton family.
Thank you for being part of this journey! Click the button below to watch the highlights, featuring national and international award-winning Maryland-based poet Gayle Danley, whose work has been showcased on such media outlets as CBS and in The New York Times. You can learn more about Danley at HERE.
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin - Berry College
Cultural Advocacy.
The Shelton Heritage Society advocates for the preservation and recognition of the Shelton family’s historical contributions, both locally and nationally. Beyond historical documentation, the organization’s efforts include collaboration with descendants, community members, experts and organizations in history and preservation to ensure the Shelton family’s legacy is honored.
The Shelton Heritage Society of GA & Historic Possum Trot, Inc. (Shelton Heritage Society/SHS) is strongly committed to in-depth historical research. For over eight years, extensive genealogical and archival research, in which our leadership has played a critical role, has uncovered vital documents and other information contributing to the renaming of the Possum Trot Cemetery to the Shelton Family Cemetery and the installation of a historical marker on the site of the Shelton family’s historic Possum Trot settlement located at what is now known as Berry College. (Pictured: Shelton Family Settlement at Possum Trot historical marker installed 2021 - Dedicated 2022)
Research Curation.
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin - Berry College
Historic Preservation.
Not only does SHS raise awareness about the physical and cultural landmarks associated with the Shelton family’s history, but we are also engaged in preserving the family’s intangible heritage. Through a collaborative effort, we strive to preserve Shelton-connected historic sites, such as the former homestead of Lee and Frances “Fannie” Shelton Cathey in Robertson County, Texas, along with any related material culture and documentation.
Central to our mission is the belief that healing, empowerment, and transformation can come from reconnection and awareness of one’s legacy. Committed to reconnecting descendants of Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton after decades of separation, SHS is also working to reestablish ties with the origin family of our ancestors. We strive to create a space where healing and unity can thrive. Could you be a descendant? If so, click the link below!
Legacy Cultivation & Reconnection.
According to oral history passed down by the descendants of Lee and Fannie Shelton Cathey, during the Great Depression, their children shared crops from their fields in Robertson County, Texas, with people of all races to help ensure no families went hungry. Across the nation, our family believes in helping others and has a strong tradition of giving back to their communities. At SHS, we believe in the undeniable impact of reaching back to help those in need.
Service to Our Community.
Listen as a descendant and one of the Cathey and Shelton family historians and genealogy researchers, describes the history of the Shelton family at Possum Trot, Hardy and Mary Bearden Shelton’s last known homestead in Rome, Georgia, and the impact of her fourth great grandparent’s legacy.
WCLK Atlanta Jazz Interview.
The Impact of Knowing One’s Family History
Watch as William Alexander Monroe, III, a third great-grandson of Pinkney and Laura Shelton Franklin, describes what being on the land of his ancestors and the cemetery where his ancestors rest means to him. Evidence suggests that Laura may be buried in the Shelton Family Cemetery at Possum Trot.
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin - Berry College
At SHS, we are deeply committed to restorative practices that promote healing and justice as we embark upon this sacred work. Our mission is not only to preserve and document the rich history of the Shelton family but also to address the historical injustices faced by our ancestors. Through restorative practices, we aim to reconnect descendants, rebuild relationships, and create a space for open dialogue about our shared heritage. We believe that by honoring the past and fostering a spirit of healing, we can move forward together, ensuring that the legacy of our ancestors, which is shared equally by all descendants, continues to inspire and uplift future generations.
A Sacred Work. Restorative Practices.
Upcoming Events & Announcements
Law & Legacy: Protecting Our Heritage
Join us for a presentation and Q&A with Will Cook, Esq., Partner at Cultural Heritage Partners, as he shares strategies for safeguarding historic sites and cultural heritage. Learn about legal tools, preservation practices, and community advocacy efforts that help protect family and community legacies for future generations.
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. EST | Zoom - Free and Open to the Public
Historic Preservation Series: Law and Legacy - Protecting Memory, Heritage, and Historic Sites
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Photo Credit: Deidra Roberson - Descendant
Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin - Berry College
Photo Credit: Deidra Roberson - Descendant
Photo Credit: Deidra Roberson - Descendant